Radio dial control



Dec. 30, 1930. H. A. ZIQLA 1,787,298

'RADI O DIAL CONTROL Original Filed April 5, 1928 gwuzntoz Patented Dec. 30, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY A. ZIOLA, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA, 0] NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE RADIO DIAL CONTROL Original-application filed April 5, 1928, Serial No. 267,591. Divided and this application filed January 24,

- 1929. SerialNo. 334,704.

This invention relates to radio dial control, particularly to indicating means operable simultaneously with the controlling mechanism of a radio receiving apparatus. and is a division of my application Serial Number 267,591, filed April 5, 1928.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an indicia carrying tape of any desirabl length. In my former invention embodying an endlesstape. there are certain limitations as to the length of tape that can be used. It is easily seen that the endless tape must be supported by a plurality of rollers. so that it will be held in an extended position. This establishes the condition wherein the length of the tape employed is limited by the size and accessibility of the cabinet.

My present invention overcomes this objection by employing a tape. one end of which is secured to one roller. the other end of which is fastened to a second roller. and any desirable length of tape is wound about a roller. the free end of the tape then being fastened to a second roller. A spring or some similar device is attached to one of-the rollers for tensioning the tape. This spring also allows the tape to be unwound. providing for movement in one direction. and rewinds it when allowed to do so. whereby the tape is wound in the opposite direction.

It is therefore the object of my invention to provide an unlimited length of indicia carrying tape wound about a plurality of rollers, and associating with the rollers instrumentalities for causing rotation of at least one of the rollers whereby the indicating tape is caused to move. Of course this movement of the tape will be in synchronism with the wave controlling means as is fully set out in the parent application above identified.

A more detailed feature of the invention resides in the mounting of the tape on the rollers. In a preferred embodiment. the tape has each end anchored to a roller so that turning action of one roller in one direction will cause the tape to be wound thereon. while rotation of the other roller in an opposite direction causes the tape to be taken upon the last named roller.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means associated with the rollers for tensioning the tape. said means allowing the tape to be wound upon one of the rollers 'and also being operable to cause a rewinding of the tape on the roller with which the spring is associated as it is unwound from another roller.

ith these and other objects in view as will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter stated, the invention comprises certain novel constructions and combinations and arrangement of parts as will be subsequently specified and claimed.

For a more complete understanding of my invention. reference may be had to the rot lowing description and accompanying drawings. in which,

Figure 1 is aside elevation with the casing of a radio cabinet in section and parts in elevation showing an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Throughout the various figures of the drawings and following specification. like reference characters denote corresponding parts.

lVhile a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is herein set forth. it is to be understood I am not to be limited to the exact constructions illustrated and described. because various modifications of these details maybe provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview-of the appended claims.

A panel member 1 has a sight opening 2 therein. A wheel member 3 carried by a shaft 4 and rigidly fastened thereto. is disposed beneath the sight opening 2. The shaft 4 as well as other shafts and operating instrumentalities to be hereinafter referr d to, all have bearings-in the radio cabinet with which this dial control mechanism is associated. An indicia carrying member or tape 5 has one end fastened to the wheel 3 at 6 by any suitable means such as the screw 7. The remaining portion of the tape 5 is wound around a wheel member 8 mounted on a shaft 10, the end of said tape being fastened to the wheel member at 9. A spiral spring 11 has one end secured to the shaft 10 as shown at 12, the other end being fastened to a pin 13 which is aflixed to the wheel member 8. It can be readily seen that any desired length of tape can be takenup by the rollers 3 and 8. the

spring keeping it taut at all times but allowing it to be unrolled from either roller.

An operating member 14 is attached to a shaft 15. mounted in the panel 1, and carries the bevel gear 16 thereon, said bevel gear cooperating with a complemental gear 17 drivably mounted on the shaft 4. A sprocket wheel 18 is also non-rotatably mounted on the shaft 4 and cooperates with a similar but larger sprocket wheel 19 which is carriedby the condenser shaft 20 and is keyed thereto. A tape or'chain 21 is here shown as the driving connection between the sprocket wheels 18 and 19. A spring 22- is fastened to the 2 support 23 by screws as shown at 24. The

support 23 has a slot 25 therein adaptedto hold the shaft20. The spring 22 bears on the shaft 20 thereby tensioning the tape or chain 21.

25 A vernier adjustment means has a knob 26. shaft 27, and worm 28 fastened to the shaft. The worm 28 cooperates with a worm gear 29, said gear being supported by the shaft 4 and has frictional engagement of any suit- 30 able means with'the wheel 3.

lVhen it is desired to tune in a broadcasting station, my device is operated in the following manner. The knob 14 is turned in a suitable direction thereby imparting rotative movement to the shaft 15 and the bevel gear 16. The bevel gear 16 is complemental with the gear 17 causing it to rotate, which action is transmitted to the shaft 4. Mounted on and keyed to the shaft 4 is the tape carrying member 3, whichhas the indicia bearing tape 5 anchored-to the periphery thereof. Itis easily seen that rotation of the knob 14 causes the tape 5 to travel beneath the sight opening 2.

The remaining portion of the tape is rolled around the member 8, loosely carried by the shaft 10. The spring arrangement shownat 11, 12 and 13 allows the tape to be unrolled when the knob 14 is turned in one direction, and causes the tape to be rolled on-the member 8 when'the knob 14 is rotated in the op posite direction. The spring assembly also tensions the tape at all times.

The movement of the wave controlling means or condenser, mounted on the shaft 20, is synchronized with that of the members 3 by the driving connections shown at 18, 19 and 21', but the said motion is of less amplitude than that of the indicia carrying memher. In this manner, a small rotative movement of the condenser is accompanied by a much greater movement of the indicia carrying tape.

05 Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is:

1. In a radio tuning device of the class described, a shaft, an indicator movable with said shaft, a tuning lnember shaft, means for causing movement of said indicator and of the tuning member shaft, said means comprising a chain and sprocket device mounted on said shafts, instrumentalities for operating said means, and a device for taking up slack in said chain.

2. In a radio tuning device of the class described, an indicia bearing tape, a tuning member shaft, means for causing movement of said tape and of the shaft, said means comprising a shaft having a roller on which said tape is mounted, chain and sprocketmeans mounted on said shafts, instrumentalities for operating said means, and means for taking 'up slack in said tape and chain, wherebysaid tape will at all timesindicate the correct positions of the tuning member.

3. In a radio tuning device of the class described. a shaft, an indicator movable with said shaft, a tuning member shaft, means for causing movement of said indicator and of the tuning member shaft, said means comprising a chain and sprocket device mounted on said shafts, instrumentalities for operating said means, and adevice for taking up slack 1n sald chain, said device including means for urging said shafts apart.

4. In a radio tuning device of the class if described, a shaft, an indicator movable with said shaft, a tuning member shaft, means for causing movement of said indicator and of the tuning member shaft, said means comprising a. chain and sprocket device mounted on said shafts, instrumentalities foroperating said means, and a device for taking up slack in said chain, one of said shafts being shiftable toward and away from the other, and resilient means urging said shafts -apart to take up slack in said chain.

5. In a radio tuning device of the class described, a shaft, an indicator movable with said shaft, a tuning member shaft, means for causing movement of said indicator and of the tuning member shaft, said means comprislng a chain and sprocket device mounted on said shafts, instrumentalities for operating said means, a support for said shafts, one

of said shafts being movable toward and away from the other, and resilient means mounted on the support and engaging the movablv mounted shaft and exerting pressure thereon in a direction away from the other shaft to take up slack in said chain.

In" testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY A. ZIOLA.- 

